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F. MILLER.

GAR GOUPLING.

No. 342,028. Patented May 18, 1886.

ullllllJllT Il lll FFIQE@ FRANK MILLER, OF OLEMA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO UPTON M. GORDON, OF SAN RAFAEL, CALIFORNIA.

CARMCOUPLING.

PECFICATIONforming part of Letters Patent No. 342,028, dated May 18, 1886.

(No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK MILLER, of Olema, county of Marin, and State of California, have invented an Improvement in Oar-Ooup lings; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to the class of eareoupiings; and it consists in oppositely-loeated springactuated drawheads of peculiar coustruction, a novel pivoted orswinging hook in each draw-head, a spring-actuated lock-bar for each hook, and means for withdrawing the lock-bar, all of which I shall hereinafter fully describe. v

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and effective car-coupling whose engagement is automatic, and the release of which can be effected without having to go between the cars.

Referring` to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan of my ear-ooupling. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one draw-head. Fig. 3 is a view ofthe hook. Fig. 4. isaview of the hook inodilied to receive an ordinary link and pin.

.A are the ears.

B are the draw-heads, the shanks b of which pass back under the ears in suitable guides,

`and have a longitudinal movement controlled bya spring, S, on the rear of the shanks. The draw-heads are each formed with a slotted or twoApart bearing, b, aud an oppositely-loeated guard, b2, these parts being arranged in one draw-head the reverse of those in the other.

C are the hooks, which may be described as consisting of a head, c, a body, c', and a tailpiece, c?, the whole resembling in outline an imperfectly-Iormed S. These hooks are pivoted in the slotted bearings b by pins or rivets D, which pass through the hooks about where the head joinsthc body, and when they move on their pivots their tail-pieces pass behind pins or blocks E, which are secured in the bearings b a little farther back. Vhere the taihpiecejoius the body of the hooksis made a notch, c3, and a lip or catch, c4, is formed on the end of the tail-piece.

F are the lock-bars. These lie parallel with the shanks of the drawheads, and are secured thereto by guidepinsf in the bearings b and guide-sockets f on the Shanks. 'Springs s hold theloek-bars forward. The outer ends of these bars have a rib or ange, f2.

G is a rockshaft journaled transversely under the car, and having an arm, g, extending upwardly and engaging a shoulder, f3, on the lock-bar. The end ot' the shaft has a crank, g', which extends to within reach of the brakeman, whether on a flat or a box car.

The operation of my ear-coupling is as follows: The hooks O are first thrown back to an open position, with their heads to one side, their bodies extending transversely of the draw-heads, and their tail-pieces limited by the engagement of their catches c4 with the end or head of the lock-bars F, which, under the influence ofthe springs s, are pressed forward with sutlicient force to hold the hooksin their open position against any ordinary jar, though not against the positive force of the coupling operation. The draw heads now come together, and as they iit into each other the h ead ol each hook comes in contact with the opposing body of the other, so that each is forced around on its pivot until the two heads are interloeked each within the other draw-head. This movement of the hook earries the notches c3 back into line with the ends of the loek-bars F, which spring forward and engage them, while the ribs j bear against the base of the tail-pieces. rIhis locks the hooks effeetually and prevents further movement. The tail-pieces have passed behind the pins or blocks E, and the drawing strain is resisted or borne not only by the pivot-pins D ofthe hooks, but by the pins or blocks E as well, and these blocks may be made as heavy as desirable, thus giving the coupling any desired strength.

In order to release the coupling, the crank g is operated so that the shaft G is rocked and its arm g made to force back the lock-bar F, thus relieving the hook, whereby the opposite one may be drawn out.

In ease it be desired to couple a car with the old form of draw-head with link and pin to a car furnished with my drawhead, I make in the head of' the hook C a slot, w, and ahole, x', for the reception of the link and pin, Fig. 4.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, isl

IOO

l. The draw-heads B, having the two-part or slotted bearings b and oppositely-located guards b2, in combination With the curved pivoted hooks G and the locking-bars F, sliding in bearings on the side of the draw-head, substantially as herein described.

2. In a car-coupling, the combination of the draw-heads B, the hooks C, pivoted therein, and having tail-pieces 02,*the pins or blocks E Within the draw-heads, with which the tailpieces engage, and the lock-bars F, for engaging the hooks, substantially as described.

3. In a ear-coupling, the combination of the draw-heads B, having the pins or blocks E in one side, the hooks C, pivoted in the draw* heads, and having notches c3 and taihpicces c, engaging the pins or blocks E, and the spring-actuated lock-bars F, for engaging the notches c3 of lthe hooks, substantially as described.

4. In a carcoupling, the draw-heads B, having the pins or blocks E in one side, the hooks C, pivoted in the draw-heads, and having notches c, and tail-pieces c2, with catches c" on hand.

their ends, said tail-pieces engaging the pins or blocks E, in combination with the springactuated lock-bars F, for engaging the notches c3 of the hooks, and having ribs frbearing against said hooks, substantially as described.

5. In a car coupling, the draw-heads B, formed with shanks b, actuated by springs, and slotted bearings b', with opposing guards b2, and the pins or blocks Ein the slotted bearings, in combination with the hooks C, pivoted in the slotted bearings, and having notches c3, and tail-pieces cwith catches c", and tail-pieces engaging the pins or blocks E, and the springactuated lock-bars F, guided upon the shanks of the draw-heads and engaging the notches of the hooks and the catch of the tail-pieces, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my y FRANK MILLER:

writnesses:

W. O. L. CRANDELL, VAL SHooKEY. 

